Rumi's Masnavi - When he (any one) steals, his hand goes: the Pen has dried (on that). (When) he drinks wine, he becomes intoxicated: the Pen has dried (on that).

When he (any one) steals, his hand goes: the Pen has dried (on that). (When) he drinks wine, he becomes intoxicated: the Pen has dried (on that). 3135

چون بدزدد دست شد جف القلم ** خورد باده مست شد جف القلم

Do you deem it allowable, can it be allowable, that on account of the (eternally) prior decree God should come, like a person dismissed from office,

تو روا داری روا باشد که حق ** هم‌چو معزول آید از حکم سبق

Saying, ‘The affair has gone out of My hands: do not approach Me so often, do not entreat (Me) so much’?

که ز دست من برون رفتست کار ** پیش من چندین میا چندین مزار

Nay, the meaning is: ‘the Pen has dried (on this that) justice and injustice are not equal in My sight.

بلک معنی آن بود جف القلم ** نیست یکسان پیش من عدل و ستم

I have laid down a distinction between good and evil; I have also laid down a distinction between the bad and the worse.’

فرق بنهادم میان خیر و شر ** فرق بنهادم ز بد هم از بتر

If there be in you a single mote of self-discipline in excess of (that of) your companion, the grace of God will know, 3140

ذره‌ای گر در تو افزونی ادب ** باشد از یارت بداند فضل رب

And will bestow on you that mote's amount of superiority: the mote will step forth as (big as) a mountain (to meet you).

قدر آن ذره ترا افزون دهد ** ذره چون کوهی قدم بیرون نهد

A king before whose throne there is no distinction between the faithful (friend) and the seeker of iniquity—

پادشاهی که به پیش تخت او ** فرق نبود از امین و ظلم‌جو

Between him who trembles in fear of his (the king's) disapproval and him who intrigues against his fortune (empire)—

آنک می‌لرزد ز بیم رد او ** وانک طعنه می‌زند در جد او

(So that) there is no difference, but both of them are one to him: he is not a king, may dark earth be on his head!

فرق نبود هر دو یک باشد برش ** شاه نبود خاک تیره بر سرش